Thursday, August 9, 2007

‘American Pimp’ on UBM-TV

It’s a humane study of an inhumane hustle... a window onto a hidden world. Albert and Allen Hughes showcase some real-life characters (such as Bishop Don Magic Juan, pictured) who, by the nature of their game, glisten and glide across the screen.

I got four slices of “American Pimp” now showing on my Video Bar.

Watch it as sociology, or listen to it as folklore – as vernacular poetry. You can hate it for the way of life it records. Or you can appreciate it as a skillful piece of filmmaking.

I thought the documentary was FASCINATING and at the same time repellent. You can sort of see why these guys are good at what they do; they have charisma. But the callous way they refer to the women who support them is disturbing. But I'm just glad it was available. I saw it a long time ago, on HBO? IFC? Can't remember. That censorship hadn't removed this interesting "slice of life" from distribution is a good thing.